"Xinyu, do you know how to save seeds from these mountain yams?" Wang Jianqiang asked while smoking.
"Uncle, I don’t know either, but these things grow on their own. I think next year we can co and directly plant the mountain yam stalks." Jiang Xinyu and Wang Ailing were picking mountain yam beans.
"Alright, shall we try it next year?"
"Why don’t we save seeds now?"
"Sis, in this disaster year, if discovered, we can’t keep them. It’s safer for us to co and work hard next year to plant them."
"I hadn’t really thought of that." Almost two hours later, Sun Eri ca over carrying a basket. The three of them were the first batch again.
Today, Jiang Xinyu and Ailing got smart and quickly picked up branches while it was still daylight, to avoid suffering at night.
"Sis, I’m going to take a look nearby. You keep picking."
"Okay, don’t go too far."
Jiang Xinyu walked up the mountain and really found a pepper tree, "Sis, bring a bag over here, there’s peppers. Let’s pick so."
The two of them had a bit of a ’plucking chicken hair’ attitude, picking everything they could reach from the tree.
"We’ll continue coming here tomorrow. Lots of good stuff in these mountains."
"Sis, I’m definitely resting tomorrow. You and Brother Xiao Long co."
"Okay, I’ll bring you back sothing good."
It got dark, and the two of them sat by the fire roasting buns. They tasted pretty good this way, not as hard, and had a grain fragrance wafting out.
For the second round, they followed the sa operation as yesterday.
Jiang Xinyu’s dinner was still at buns, couldn’t help it, she craved them too much. There was vacuum-packed chicken drumsticks, but the quantity was too small, she resisted eating them.
After bidding farewell to Sun Eri, Jiang Xinyu directly collected the mountain yams from the ground. Tomorrow, she’s going to sleep in naturally. With the low courtyard wall, leaving them out like this isn’t safe. After tidying up, she went to bed, deciding not to open the door no matter who knocks tomorrow.
The next day, no one really ca knocking. Jiang Xinyu slept until after nine, stretching in the bedding. If she ignored the icy kang, it was truly comfortable.
She got up lazily, tidied up the bedding, and then went to boil water and wash up.
Feeling like eating rice, but looking at the aluminum basin, she didn’t have the courage to use it. So, she took out her lunchbox to steam so rice.
She also stead an egg custard for herself and took out a vacuum-packed boneless roast chicken. Life is truly beautiful.
After eating to her fill, she lay on the kang to digest. She wasn’t going out today.
Feeling sleepy, she covered herself with the blankets again and continued to sleep.
She slept until two in the afternoon, feeling her bones soft. Ate a bun and the remaining half of the roast chicken, then entered the cellar, lit a candle, and sorted out these mountain yams.
Jiang Xinyu estimated there were over a thousand pounds. Grinning broadly at the heap, she put the unblemished, straight ones into her space. The broken ones were to be taken out, stead over a fire to eat tonight. Though there’s no blueberry jam, there’s yogurt and sugar to mix with the yam puree, it should taste good.
There were only about a hundred pounds left in the cellar, much safer in the space where they can be preserved, without the worry of spoilage.
Once she was out of the cellar, it was already past three. No bath tonight, she would steam the yams over the fire.
The gate was knocked on, and Jiang Xinyu opened it to see Wang Ailing.
"Sis, did you harvest anything today?"
"Didn’t go, my mom told to rest for a day. What were you up to? I’ll bring you that basket of mountain yams tonight."
"No need, I can’t manage to eat that much alone. Don’t refuse. Is this really necessary?"
"Alright, shall we go up the mountain again tomorrow?"
"Sure, let’s check if there are other seasonings tomorrow?"
I’m steaming yams. Sis, want to take so?"
"My family is steaming yams too, you keep yours. I’ll co by to call you tomorrow."
In the evening, Jiang Xinyu ate the coveted yam puree. Indeed, the taste was truly good.
Exhausted, having slept so long during the day, Jiang Xinyu was sleepy again by nine.
The next day, she cooked eggs for herself. Actually wanted olets, but the sll would be too big, truly not daring to do it, her stomach still lacking oil.
Bun, milk, egg, the breakfast was hearty.
When Wang Ailing ca over, she inford her that Wang Xiaolong had already gone to the mountains.
Today they didn’t discover anything, not even seasoning, but the three weren’t disappointed. People should know when to be satisfied. The food had already been brought ho, even if nothing more was found, they were content.
The three returned ho and chopped firewood for Jiang Xinyu again.
They discussed not going to the mountains tomorrow, but visiting the market.
"Sis, co call tomorrow."
"Hm, don’t need to get up too early. There’s actually not much good stuff at the market."
"I’m going to buy tarpaulin tomorrow, the leaves in the yard should be stacked together now."
Back ho, she stacked the branches next to the firewood shed. This way, leaning against two walls, it was less likely to fall.
She cooked herself so frozen dumplings, with three-ingredient filling, ate them with happiness, feeling like the happiest person.
The next morning, it was again buns, eggs, milk. Jiang Xinyu felt if she continued like this, in less than a month, she’d gain weight.
Today, she needed to steam buns again; the stock in space was low, perfect for winter with frequent fires, aning lots of steaming.
Wang Ailing knocked on the door, and the two set off with baskets. On the way, they encountered many people, all heading to the market, not mainly to buy things but to join the fun.
After a one-hour walk, they arrived at the township market.
Jiang Xinyu was looking at the freshness, unsure if there were grains for sale at the market.
Quite disappointed, seeing a crowded area from afar, only to realize there weren’t many sellers upon arrival.
Well, it’s a disaster year, who’d be foolish enough to sell grains? That’d be risking their life.
After a stroll, Jiang Xinyu bought two baskets, one large and one small. Also two large wooden basins. After much negotiation, they agreed to have it delivered ho, but Jiang Xinyu had to buy two small basins too.
They had a pushcart, a few extra steps for them, but it would be impossible for the two girls to carry them ho.
Also went to the supply and sales cooperative, bought ten ters of tarpaulin. The salesperson kindly let them put the tarpaulin on the pushcart.
Once ho, the delivery person left after collecting the money. Jiang Xinyu planned to fill the large basins with buns.
For the following days, Jiang Xinyu kept steaming buns and sugar buns. Although the fragrance of food was evident, it wasn’t too much, just noticeable to the neighbors, but there was no reaction from them.
Three days later, Jiang Xinyu was fully rested, went to find Wang Ailing, asking her to help grind cornal the next morning.
She also planned to make so cornbread and corn buns for ergencies, not liking them, so she’d make very little, just for ergencies.
Wang Ailing was in much better shape than Jiang Xinyu, having gone to gather firewood for two days again.
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